Overnight we had jagged Eastern Barn Owl, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook, however a southerly bluster had picked up and it was bitingly cold by the time we had bedded down on the rainforest floor.
Our half-sleep was disturbed by Golden Whistlers and Eastern Yellow Robins which kept at it all morning. During the dawn chorus, before heading down through the foothills, we came across the following: Both thrush, two scrubwrens, two monarchs, Noisy Pitta, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Green Catbird, Rufous Fantail, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Aus. Brush Turkey and, a corker, Red-browed Treecreeper.
We did well on the road down from the mountains, with Pheasant Coucal sunning itself, Torresian Crow, Scarlet Honeyeater and Pacific Koel making it onto the list.
Scaly-breasted Lorikeets at Seaham and 'Geoff' at Raymond Terrace were added amongst others and Grahamstown provided Musk Duck, Great-crested Grebe and Great Cormorant.
Our race took a disappointing turn, by arriving at Stockton too early. We picked up some of the basic waders, as well as the tereks, tattlers and PGP's nearby, but we agreed that a return trip to 'the spit' was absolutely necessary before the race end.
From here we cruised into Newcastle, through unusually light traffic (by Newcastle standards!) to the baths, but only picked up Crested Tern, Sooty Oystercatcher and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters offshore. Back to Stockton, and by now the waders had really arrived; Red Knot, both godwits, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone, Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel and Gull-billed tern.
Now we headed inland, stopping in breifly at Hexham and Ash Island to pick up some raptors, White-fronted Chat and Brown Songlark! Overlooking Lenaghans we picked up some distant Glossy Ibis, then, down the road, we lucked upon Topknot Pigeons (where they'd been the previous weekend), Channel-billed Cuckoo and Latham's Snipe flushed, but no jacana.
Our list had passed 200 concisively, and thus the rest of the time we had was spent mopping up what we could. New-Holland Honeyeater, Eurasian Goldfinch, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater etc.
We made it to the wetlands centre with plenty of time to pick up the Magpie Goose and Wandering Whistling-Duck and finally Tawny Grassbird.
Our 24-hour race had ended and our tally stood at an impressive 223 species. We had come in 3rd place, after the Hunter Home Brewers who ended up with 224... However, they did restrict themselves exclusively to the Hunter itself. The winner, as expected, were the Menacing Monarchs on 234.
And so ended the Dodgy Drongos Twitchathon campaign for 2012, a weekend of stunning birds, long hours, little food, little sleep enjoyed by all drongos!
A species list can be accessed here: http://www.eremaea.com/Lists.aspx?List=149116
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